The influence of planning an implementation success of advanced manufacturing technologies

The relationship between planning and implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), and the ability to obtain a competitive edge is generally assumed but not empirically verified. Using a questionnaire approach, this study surveyed a sample of 222 manufacturing firms who have implemented AMT´s to address these issues. The results show that the quality of the planning system, measured in terms of scope/comprehensiveness and adaptiveness, had significant moderating influences on the relationship between the perceived need for strategic change and implementation success. That is, all other things being equal, planning systems helped firms to better focus on their performance-deficiency areas and exploit AMT´s capabilities, thereby enabling superior performance and greater satisfaction with their AMT systems. Awareness of the capabilities/suitability of AMT´s to the firm´s operating contest (technology-push), and recognition of performance shortcomings (need-pull) also have significant direct influences on the two outcome variables